Search found 21 matches

by Stephen
Tue Apr 27, 2010 7:03 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Departure
Replies: 0
Views: 805

Departure

Unfortunately a lot of my time has become required for self-improvement :meditate: on my path. I won't be able to comb through threads/posts here or on Dharma Wheel (I was on both) any longer. If anyone e-mails me I'll do my best to help. I'm not an expert, but I am honest and not biased toward any ...
by Stephen
Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:14 am
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Hello all
Replies: 13
Views: 2144

Re: Hello all

Hey hey sukhita! Famous winner of the "Buddhism in Five Words" thread of legend... lol. I guess we all get around.
by Stephen
Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:04 pm
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Hello all
Replies: 13
Views: 2144

Re: Hello all

We keep running into each other Nios. ;)
by Stephen
Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:03 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Organ Donation
Replies: 3
Views: 1402

Re: Organ Donation

Donation of your organs to those in need after you no longer need them yourself is one of the greatest gifts you can give. It is of course the "Buddhist thing to do".
by Stephen
Sun Apr 18, 2010 2:39 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Human sacrifice in West Bengal, India
Replies: 2
Views: 840

Re: Human sacrifice in West Bengal, India

That's sad. I do hope that their government realizes that no matter how hard they try, rules/laws do not change the nature of the beast. There will always be atrocities, whether they are public ones like this or those we're in the dark about.
by Stephen
Sun Apr 18, 2010 2:27 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Fasting Buddha
Replies: 19
Views: 3112

Re: Fasting Buddha

OH, I thought you meant how could YOU have a body like that. :) My bad. Here's a link to a starving Buddha statue on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Bronze-Gandarva-Starving-Buddha-Statue-NEPAL-12H_W0QQitemZ400103680080QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5d2809a850" onclick="window.op...
by Stephen
Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:45 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Fasting Buddha
Replies: 19
Views: 3112

Re: Fasting Buddha

Sure, severe asceticism... but I heard a man once did this and found it to be unskillful and not conducive to awakening. :)
by Stephen
Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:41 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Supernatural powers in Buddhism.
Replies: 14
Views: 6076

Re: Supernatural powers in Buddhism.

Believing or disbelieving in anything without your own direct experience is only asking for trouble. Understand that which is explained in the teachings and do not form attachments to views. Good luck.
by Stephen
Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:39 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Rahula's gestation period
Replies: 20
Views: 5335

Re: Rahula's gestation period

It's pretty obvious that it's not literal. There are a lot of things that are meant to train our minds to be able to see the truth; to set up the conditions for liberation. We shouldn't waste too much time on trying to nail anything down. Hell, we can't even know what the Buddha actually taught. :)
by Stephen
Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:40 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Meditation techniques to improve concentration
Replies: 11
Views: 4923

Re: Meditation techniques to improve concentration

Mindfulness is our greatest treasure, but I recently received advice from a wise friend on a method that can help us maintain mindfulness during most any activity. Usually if we're not really thinking about it, we forget that we are a process (aggregates undergoing constant change), and perceive our...
by Stephen
Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:58 am
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: United States --> Australia
Replies: 6
Views: 3093

Re: United States --> Australia

Yeah that's what happens when lingo from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy gets absorbed into my fuzzy brainspace; no one understands me. ;)
by Stephen
Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:32 am
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: United States --> Australia
Replies: 6
Views: 3093

Re: United States --> Australia

Ajahn Brahm's in Australia.... now that's one hoopy frood.
by Stephen
Sun Mar 21, 2010 2:29 am
Forum: Announcements
Topic: Steward needed at Arrow River, Ontario, Canada
Replies: 2
Views: 1682

Re: Steward needed at Arrow River, Ontario, Canada

If only I could cook... ;)
by Stephen
Sun Mar 21, 2010 2:25 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: What is the lay follower to do?
Replies: 31
Views: 5968

Re: What is the lay follower to do?

Killing animals to sell their meat is definitely wrong livelihood. Killing to survive, i.e food for you and your family, would be different. It's really a matter of how far you are willing to go to avoid unskillful kamma and to become liberated. Compared to the amount of mental effort one has to put...
by Stephen
Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:41 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: A question on dana motives
Replies: 2
Views: 1161

Re: A question on dana motives

It means that the person recognizes that the object is a fetter, an attachment.